The the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has today urged a Milimani court to Jail and convict former Migori Governor Zachary Okoth Obado and his co-accused over the brutal killing of university student Sharon Otieno.
Appearing before the Milimani High Court, Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Gikui Gichuhi painted what she described as a chilling and meticulously coordinated assassination plot designed to eliminate Otieno and silence a key witness to avert political scandal and reputational ruin.
“The evidence paints a coherent picture of the accused acting in concert, with a shared intention to eliminate Sharon Otieno and silence witness (XYZ) to avoid political fallout, reputational harm and embarrassment,” Gichuhi told a packed courtroom.
According to the prosecution, the murder was not spontaneous but a carefully orchestrated joint criminal enterprise executed through trusted insiders. Co-accused Michael Juma Oyamo and Casper Ojwang Obiero were allegedly central operatives in the deadly plan.
The court heard that the pair were present at Graca Hotel on the night of September 3, 2018 — the last confirmed location where the deceased and a surviving witness were seen before their alleged abduction. Prosecutors said the vehicle used in the operation, registration number KCL 418K, was linked directly to Obiero’s household and driven by a longtime associate, tightening what they termed an “unbroken chain of evidence.”
In gripping submissions, the prosecution walked the court through what it described as overwhelming proof — including witness testimonies, cyber-forensic reports, phone data analysis and investigative findings — all allegedly converging on the accused.
“From the start, we committed to showing the court that the evidence, like pieces of a puzzle, forms a complete picture of the events that led to Sharon’s tragic death,” Gichuhi said.
The State further tore into the defence strategy, dismissing it as inconsistent, contradictory and crafted as an afterthought meant to muddy the waters.
“There is no reasonable doubt,” the prosecution insisted, maintaining that the accused must be held fully accountable.
Obado, Oyamo and Obiero face charges of murdering Otieno, whose death in 2018 sparked national grief and renewed debate about power, gender violence and political impunity.
The court has already ruled that the trio have a case to answer, setting the stage for a dramatic conclusion to the years-long legal battle. Judges will reconvene on March 18, 2026, when the date for the long-awaited judgment is expected to be announced.
